Page 8 - 1901 Pinakidia

Preface.
D
T c,une to pa~s on one bleak winter's day. that the Class of 'ot, \\ishing to make ih name immortal, and
abo to make the College famous throughout all coming time. forthwith assembled on its ancient moot·
hill, ami therefore the existence of this \olume.
Instead of using a common. c\·ery-day word, or some trite phrase, for our title, we borrow from the
Cn:cks their musical tnme for tablets or memoranda-Pinakidia
The period of incubation of a common egg is generally in the neighborhood of three weeks, but th_is germ
cell was a \'ery extraordinary one, since it took nearly fiye weeks for the old hen the editors to hatch it.
Indeed, this phenomena caused a great deal of debate; some pronounced it spoiled, others prophesied that it
would he frizzled or featherless, \\·IIile still other:; predicted a Bird of Paradise Yet the old hen paid no heed to
those wo'rthless augurs, but continued to set and set, maybe with a little more determination, only'' coming off''
long enough to dust herself and get a mess hall biscuit, and then returned to her nest, where she resumed her task.
fccling sure that so much diligence and perse\'erance would certainly be rewarded bountifully. In good time,
when spring was well under headwa~, the poor old hen, worn out with constant sitting, her joints stiff from a
cramped position, and more or less at odds with the other poultry, was fully recompensed, which em·oh·ed the
greatest exultation that can be imagined a hen would shO\\. under the same circumstances, by hearing a ,·ery,
\'en· faint rl111j>, a picking, another chirp and then another. Oh, blissful joy! l:nbounded delight! Her labor
was o\·er! In her pardonablt:! confusion and great burry, she accidently broke the shell, when out stepped little
Pinakidia, somewhat dazed and dismayed, but not daunted. At first he would simply peep from under his
mother's wing, then come out to run right back again, but, gaining popularity and courage. he each day length-
ened his explorations, wandering from his mother's side, sometimes not being seen by her for a whole day. At
last. his mother feeling that he had gained sufficient strength and experience to enable him to take up the duties
of life, bade him go forth and scratch for himself, though she did it with many misgi,·ings for she knew how
plentifully ~!ethodist preachers abounded in Florida and Southern Georgia, and was, too, aware of their great pas-
sion for spring chickens, ne,·ertheless there was no alternative, so she did it bra,·ely. Her only hope is, that her
off·spring may accomplish something of benefit before the afore mentioned preachers begin to rend his tender
body asunder, and pick his fragil skeleton. Her last words were :